El Gaffer is Going Nowhere

Portsmouth will have to look outside of South Wales for their new manager after Roberto Martinez ruled himself out of the running to replace Tony Adams.

Martinez was believed to be one of the leading candidates to take the reins at Fratton Park after the former Arsenal skipper was sacked last weekend.

Martinez has drawn admiring glances for the work he has done in his time at the Liberty Stadium, where he has guided the Swans to the brink of the Championship play-offs in their first season back in the second tier for 24 years.

El Gaffer also masterminded the defeat of Pompey in the FA Cup 4th Round tie last month.

The Spaniard has been linked with jobs in the top flight before and once again he has dismissed the speculation surrounding him by committing himself to Swansea.

Martinez told BBC Sport:

'It is not something I'm seriously considering, no,' confirmed Martinez.

'Of course it is flattering but my focus is Saturday's FA Cup tie with Fulham.'

'I don't have to prove my commitment to Swansea City fans, they know that and I cannot come out and talk about every piece of speculation as I won't have time to do any work.'

'Any link to take over a Premier League club is not just a compliment to me but to the club, we're obviously doing something right.'

'It is not about feeling sorry for Tony Adams because he will go on to a new chapter in his career and he'll become a manager somewhere else.'

'But he was unfortunate with time. You need time as a manager to impose yourself, you need time to work towards something - and when you don't get that time it is unfortunate.'

'Unfortunately, though, that is the nature of modern-day football.'

Martinez has proved himself to be a loyal man in the past and this statement has been expected. Now he and his squad can concentrate on Saturday's FA Cup tie at home to Fulham.

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